Laurens - Louise Shearouse Martin, a long time resident of Laurens and for the past five years a resident at the Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center, passed into eternal life this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007.

Mrs. Martin's profession was teaching, predominately the sixth grade. She retired from teaching from her most recent school, Thornwell, in 1970. She taught for 38 years in various schools, cities and states including Thornwell in Clinton, Garlington Street in Laurens and schools in Ninety Six, Greenville and in the state of North Carolina.

She was a 1921 graduate of Summerland College in Batesburg-Leesville, at that time the Newberry women's college. Prior to her death she was the oldest living alumni of Newberry College. She was a charter member of Atonement Lutheran Church of Laurens. The church's first service began in her prior residence on South Harper Street.

Mrs. Martin is survived by a son, James E. Martin, and wife, Patricia Dominick Martin, of Alpharetta, Ga.; daughter-in-law, Sara Elizabeth Martin of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, who reside in Georgia, Florida and Texas.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Turner Martin, and her older son, John (Jack) Turner Martin Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at Atonement Lutheran Church conducted by the Rev. Jim Fox with burial in Laurens City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The Kennedy Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Atonement Lutheran Church, 413 Farley Avenue, Laurens, SC 29360.